PEABODY– After getting back into the win column with a convincing victory in straight sets over Malden on Tuesday, Peabody volleyball coach Lisa Keene has seen her team surpass her own expectations.
“We have played above where I thought we were going to play,” Keene said of the 3-2 Tanners. “During preseason and during our scrimmages I was a little unimpressed and I think the girls were a little bit as well.
“I think over time and hard work, especially by them, they are starting to gel as a team and starting to understand everybody’s roles on the court,” Keene added “Once they understood everybody’s roles they were getting out of each other’s way and communicating whose ball it was.”
Peabody defeated Malden by set scores of 25-12, 25-18 and 25-11.
Along with a growing connection on the court, Keene says her team’s chemistry has made coaching the Tanners much more enjoyable.
“The chemistry of this team is amazing,” Keene said. “I’m loving coaching right now. Sometimes you have years where you go through the motions and try to make your team better and other years you just absolutely love the kids and this is one of those years.”
The Tanners have been led on the court by a host of senior players, including libero Tatiana Correia.
“(Tatiana’s) amazing,” Keene said. “She really takes command of the whole back row and the front row. She is kind of like the quarterback of our entire team, telling people where to go and what type of ball it is. She’s just very aggressive. She’s not afraid to abuse her body and she will go anywhere and get to every single ball.”
Senior setter Rachel Coleman has also helped get teammates into great position to make plays.
“(Rachel’s) the girl that gets to every second ball,” Keene said. “When she gets to the ball she always makes a great set. She always makes a great decision as well on whether to back set or set it outside. She plays the net very well.
“Also, Ava LaValle and and Alexa Flewelling, when they are together out front they are a great duo because that gives Rachel two huge targets who have really been making positive decisions on the net in the last few weeks,” Keene added.
Just about everyone on the court played well for the Tanners in their three-set victory over Malden Tuesday on Peabody’s home floor. Correia had 14 digs and five aces while senior Martyna Kot recorded four kills and three aces. LaValle also recorded seven kills and Coleman had 13 assists and four aces.
“There was so much improvement from the other games that we’ve played,” Keene said. “We made great choices offensively with hitting. We’ve been kind of inconsistent with our hits and this game I just felt the decisions by our front line and just all over everyone is making good decisions. Whether it was a kill or it wasn’t a kill, it was in play and it wasn’t hit out of bounds or into the net.”
Looking ahead on the season, Keene and the Tanners are hoping to keep improving each match.
“We still want to improve in every facet of the game, even situational type things,” Keene said. “We have worked on basically situational volleyball. Things that might not happen in a game at all but will happen at some point, so we run those situational drills and that really helps our team improve.”
Peabody’s back on the court Thursday evening (5:30) when the Tanners travel to Winthrop.
